The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is advocating for stricter penalties, specifically a doubling from three to six penalty points, for those found guilty of speeding or utilising their mobiles while driving. If this change is enacted, violating the law twice could lead to losing one’s license, given that gathering 12 points within three years results in revocation of the license for half a year.
Despite challenges that may occur in rejecting the RSA’s proposal that is now publicly known due to records made public under the Freedom of Information Act, the government may consider it. It’s undeniable that road casualties are unacceptable and current figures are alarmingly on the rise. In the present year, road deaths hit 81, the highest in the first half of the year in the past decade.
Quite noticeably, this proposition doesn’t place additional demands on government law enforcement resources, a factor that might make it appealing as elections near. On the other hand, even this enhanced punitive approach may not be enough to deter drivers from committing these offences. Fearing the possibility of being caught usually serves as a more potent deterrent.
The crux of the matter lies in effective enforcement, which ultimately relies on police resources and the efficacy of the judicial system. Technological advancements like ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras in police vehicles can help, but their effectiveness is undermined by current staffing shortages.
The number of police officers devoted to traffic regulation is the lowest it’s been since 2017, with an approximate 600 officers each day. The strain on police resources and the dwindling number of officers, presently around 14,000 against a necessary 15,000, play a significant role. A stronger approach to safety may be achieved by having more officers enforcing existing laws than increasing penalty points.